Toy with torque canceling sling



- Jan. 9, 1968 H. B. GROW 3,362,101

TOY WITH TORQUE CANCELING SLING Filed July 1, 1965 5 25 INVENTOR.

54 Her/010B. Grow ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,362,101 TOY WITH TORQUE CAN CELING SLING Harlow B. Grow, 16530 Chattanooga Place, Pacific Palisades, Calif. 90272 Filed July 1, 1965, Ser. No. 468,806 4 Claims. (Cl. 46-59) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to a toy in the nature of a ball or the like that is propelled in play by means of a selfcontained sling, and wherein the sling is extensibly retractile with torque means biased by extension of the sling for the subsequent retraction thereof without affecting stability of the toy.

The principal object of this invention is to provide for the cancellation of torque in relation to the body of the toy while automatically unwinding the sling from the interior of the toy when it is whirled into an orbit in order to cast it, and to rewind the sling automatically into the toy when released and in flight.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, the mechanism within the toy, preferably a ball, consists of axially mounted spools that are connected by elastic or spring means and on which the ends of a cord or cords of the sling are reeled in opposite directions to wind the spring means under weight of the ball and the centrifugal force developed thereby as the cord unwinds When the ball is whirled in an orbit. Upon release of the cords, the ball is cast into space and the spring means is immediately effective to rotate the spools in reverse directions and provide the torque for drawing the cords into the ball. With this arrangement, the opposite torque forces are independent of the ball and substantially cancel each other as the cords are retracting. With the cords retracted, the ball is free of trailers and can be caught in the hand in the same manner as a conventional ball.

The preferred form of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a diametrical cross section through a ball equipped with a sling embodying the features of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a detail perspective view of the spool members of the sling mechanism shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a section through a ball, showing a modified form of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the spool members of the form of invention illustrated in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a section through a ball showing a still further modification of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a section on the line 66 of FIG. 5, to better illustrate the form of spring winding means used in the modification shown in FIG. 5.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, and first to the form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2:

1 designates a toy, for example, a ball to be cast into space by a self-contained sling, including cord means 2 and a grip 3 attached to the cord means 2.

The ball 1 may be constructed of various materials, depending upon the use thereof. For example, it may be somewhat resilient or substantially rigid and have sufiicient weight to be cast into space by whirling the ball in an orbit when holding onto the grip 3, thereby creating a desired momentum for the ball when the grip is released.

In making the ball hollow and to facilitate insertion of the sling mechanism, the ball may comprise two hemispherical sections 4 and 5, each having a wall 6 and 7, respectively, to be secured together at the perimeters 8 and 9 thereof by an adhesive 10, fusion, or other fastening, to make a smoothly rounded exterior surface so that the ball may be caught in the hands. To secure the cord means 2 within the ball and effect retraction of the cord means thereinto, the ball contains a spooling means 11.

In the first form of the invention, the spooling means 11 comprises two tubular shaft members 12 and 13, one of which, for example, the shaft member 12, has fixed within the open inner end thereof a tubular spindle 14 extending within the immediate end of the shaft member 12 to retain the shaft members 12 and 13 in coaxial alignment and allow turning movement of the shaft members in opposite directions relatively to each other. Fixed on the shaft member 12 in encircling relation with the spindle 14 is a disk 15 substantially abutting a similar disk 16 fixed to or forming a part of the shaft member 13 to separate and guide the cord means 2, as later described.

Inset within the outer ends of the tubular shafts 12 and 13 are closures 17 and 18 to cooperate with the walls of the tubular shafts in forming sockets 19 and 20 to accommodate therein trunnions 21 and 22 that may be formed integrally with the walls 7 and 6 of the hemispherical sections and which are located in diametric opposed relation.

Extending across the tubular shafts on the inside of the closures 17 and 18 are transverse pins 23 and 24 for anchoring an elastic retracting means, preferably a spring means 25. The spring means 25, in the form of the invention illustrated in FIG. 1, constitutes a single coil spring 26 contained within the tubular shafts and extending axially through the tubular spindle '14. The coil spring has hooks or eyes 28 and 27 at the ends thereof engaging over the pins 23 and 24. The coil spring 26 is of a length relatively to the tubular shafts 12 and 13 so that when the tubular shafts are at rest, the spring is substantially relaxed. The grip 3 may comprise a button 29 having spaced apart apertures 30 and 30.

The cord means 2 of FIG. 1 may consist of a single cord having its ends '31 and 32 extending through the spaced apertures 30' and 30 in the grip 3 and through a single opening 33 which is provided in the adjoining perirneters of the hemispherical sections of the ball and substantially in plane with the disks 15 and 16, to be secured to the tubular shaft members 12 and 13 in any suitable manner, for example, by running the ends through apertured ears 34 and 35 on the respective shaft members and tying knots 36 therein.

In assembling the mechanism of FIG. 1, the coil spring 26 is inserted into the tubular spindle -14, after which the tubular shaft member 13 is sleeved over the projecting end of the spring and onto the end of the spindle 14. The pins 23 and 24 are passed through openings 37 in opposite diametrical sides of the tubular shafts 12 and 13 and through the loops formed by the hooks 27 and 28 on the ends of the spring 26, after which the ends of the pins may be slightly peened, thereby fixing the ends of the spring to the shaft members 12 and 13, respectively, and holding the shaft members in assembly. The ends 31 and 32 of the cord are then wound in opposite directions onto the respective shaft members 12 and 13 adjacent the outer side faces of the disk members '15 and 16. The socket 19 of the shaft member 12 is seated over the trunnion 21 of the hemispherical section 5. The hemispherical section 4 is then brought into position so that when the perimeters of the hemispherical sections are in registry, the trunnion 22 enters the recess 20, care being taken that the cord extends through the opening 33 so as to locate the grip 3 outside of the ball. It is, of course, understood that the adhesive 10 is applied between the abutting faces of the hemispherical sections to secure the hemispherical sections together. When the parts are assembled, the tubular shafts 12 and 13 turn independently and freely upon the trunnions 21 and 22.

In casting the ball by means of the cord 2, the grip 3 is grasped by the fingers and the ball is started to gyrate into a circular orbiting motion, whereupon the centrifugal force causes the ends of the cord to unwind in opposite directions as the ball moves into orbit having the grip 3 as its center. The ball is continued to be whirled in such orbit until it has gained a desired momentum to cast the ball in space upon release of the grip.

It is obvious that since the spring has its ends fixed to the respective tubular shafts 12 and 13, the unwinding of the cord will turn the shafts in opposite directions and cause the spring to wind, thereby providing the action necessary to retract the cord within the ball when the grip is released. Release of the grip frees the shafts to turn in reverse directions under the stored up power of the spring. As the spring unwinds and the ends of the cord are retracted within the ball, and the torque forces created by the respective ends of the spring are substantially canceled out by the time the grip 3 is stopped by the surface of the ball. It is also obvious that the torque of the spring is entirely independent of the ball while the ball is in flight. Since the cord means is retracted into the ball, the ball is free of trailers and can be caught in the hands in the same manner as a conventional ball.

The form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 includes a ball having the construction above described, and the spool means -11 may also be formed by tubular shafts 12 and 13, but each tubular shaft has a pair of spaced apart disks 38-39 and 40-41 to accommodate winding of the ends 31 and 32 of the cord means wound thereon in opposite directions, as in the first described form of the invention. In this form of the invention, the spring means 25' comprises two coil springs 42 and 43, sleeved upon the outer ends of the respective shafts 12 and 13 to have their terminals 44 and 45 anchored in openings 46 in the disks 38 and 40. The outer terminals 47 and 48 of the springs are secured in holes 49 in the trunnions 21 and 22 that are provided on the inner opposite diametrical sides of the hemispherical sections and 4 of the ball. The coils of the springs 42 and 43 are oppositely wound, so that when the ball moves outwardly under centrifugal force from the grip 3, the springs are each wound up by the oppositely rotating shafts 12 and 13, so that when the grip is released the springs 42 and 43 drive the shafts 12 and 13 in opposite directions, to rewind the cord thereon until the grip 3 is brought into engagement with the outer surface of the ball.

The form of the invention shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 has a single solid shaft 50 which has its ends fixed in sockets 51 and 52 at opposite diametrical sides of the ball 1. Rotatably mounted on the shaft 50 on opposite sides of a collar 53 are spools 54 and 55 for reeling and unreeling the cord means 2. In this form, two cords 56 and 57 are shown extending through a single opening 33 in the button 29 and the button is secured thereto by tying the ends together in a knot 58. The other ends of the cords are wound upon the respective spools 55 and 54 and secured thereto in any suitable manner. In order to provide the spring action necessary in reeling the cord means, each spool has a spiral spring 59 and 60 having one end attached to a pin 62 on its spool and its other end attached to a pin 63 carried by the shaft 50. In this form of the invention the spooling means for the cords is more compact, and the ball may be formed of hemispherical sections having recesses 64 shaped to accommodate the spools.

The forms of the invention shown in FIGS. 3 and 5 are operated in the same manner as the operation which is described in connection with the form of the invention shown in FIG. 1.

While I have particularly described the invention as including a ball, it is to be understood that other forms may be employed with the sling mechanism as described.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A device of the character described which includes a body member and a torque canceling sling mechanism for whirling the body member in an orbit for generating momentum to cause said body member to fly off into space when released, said sling mechanism including two like spools,

means independently journaling the spools within said body member on a common axis,

two cords and each fixed to and wound upon one of the two spools in opposite directions respectively, and

spring means interconnecting each of the two spools with a part of the journaling means to be wound up oppositely incidental to unwinding of the cord under centrifugal force of said body member as it moves into said orbit for rewinding the cords on said spools when the cords are released.

2. A device of the character described which includes a hollow body member of ball shape and a torque canceling sling mechanism for whirling the body member in an orbit for generating momentum to cause the body member to fly off into space, said sling mechanism including two like spools,

axle means rotatably mounting the spools independently within said body member to rotate on a common axis,

means on said member within opposite diametrical sides thereof for mounting ends of the axle means in said member,

two cords and each fixed to and wound upon one of the two spools, in opposite directions respectively, and said two cords extending through an aperture in said body member to be gripped together when the member is to be whirled in said orbit, and

spring means associated with the two spools to cause winding up of the spring means incidental to turning of the two spools in opposite directions when the two cords are unwound under centrifugal force on said body member and rewinding of the cords upon said spools when the cords are released.

3. A device of the character described which includes a body member and a torque canceling sling mechanism for whirling the body member in an orbit for generating momentum to cause the body member to cast off into space, said sling mechanism including two like spools having tubular axles,

a spindle interconnecting said axles for independent rotation and for maintaining alignment of said spools,

means within said member for independently journaling end of the axles,

two cords and each having one end fixed to and wound upon one of the two spools and having their other ends extending together through an aperture in said body member for providing a grip when the body member is to be whirled in said orbit to cause said member to run out on the cords, and

spring means having an arrangement within said member and connected with the two spools to cause winding of the spring means incidental to opposite rotation of the two spools when the cords are unwound therefrom under centrifugal force on said body member as it moves into said orbit and rewinding of the cords upon said spools when the grip is released to cast off said body.

4. A device of the character described which includes a body member and a-torque canceling sling mechanism for whirling the body member in an orbit for generating momentum to cause the body member to fly off into space, said sling mechanism including two like spools and each having a tubular axle extending in opposite directions,

a tubular spindle fixed within one of the axles and journaled within the other to maintain alignment of said spools within said body member,

means on said body member within opposite diametrical sides thereof for independently journaling the opposite ends of the tubular axles,

two cords and each fixed to and Wound upon one of the two spools in opposite directions and extending together through an aperture in said body member to be gripped when it is to be whirled in said orbit,

spring means associated with the two spools and fixed thereto, and

means connecting the spring means With the tubular axles to cause opposite Winding thereof incidental to opposite turning of the spools When the cords are unwound therefrom under centrifugal force on said body member and rewinding of the cords on said spools when the cords are released.

6 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,228,140 1/1966 White 4661 FOREIGN PATENTS 764,546 3/ 1934 France.

LOUIS G. MANCENE, Primary Examiner.

F. BARRY SHAY, Examiner.

R. F. CUTTING, Assistant Examiner. 

